E 249 LIBRARY

E 249 LIBRARY

Ashland

La Pointe

50

3

W

30

1872

school-one to six room

Front Gabled

Clapboard

No

NEOCLASSICAL DETAILS INCLUDE ROUND WINDOW AND RETURN CORNICE.

Historical Background.
In the early 1860s, perhaps coinciding with the departure of the Catholic school, the La Pointe Towne Board was levying taxes to support the "town school". By 1870, thirty-six children were being taught in the school. Classes were probably held in local homes [locations unknown]. [A]

In 1872, the Town Board purchased land and contracted for the construction of a "schoolhouse." The first building built for use as a public school was the Bay View School [this building, new site, E249 Library Street, 42-35]. Constructed late in 1872 or early 1873, it was originally located at what is now the intersection of Main Street and Big Bay Road. It is a simple two story, gable front structure. Its cornice with gable-end returns and transom over the front elevation window and door are the most prominent Greek Revival details.[A]

In 1903, the Bay View School was moved onto a new stone foundation at a new location between Nebraska Row and Whitefish Street, next to Big Bay Road. In 1912 a new 10' porch was added to the building. A new District 1 school (also called Bay View) was built in 1926-7 [N868 Whitefish Street, 42-36]. Classes were last held in the old Bay View School in the academic year 1926/1927. It was moved again, and the Town Board (rather than the school district) became responsible for the building. Then renamed Memorial Hall, it served as a community center. It now houses the Madeline Island Public Library.[A]

Residents on the eastern part of the Island lobbied for and received a branch school outside of the village of La Pointe. Classes were held in buildings provided by area residents. A second school district was created in 1897. Between 1897 and 1901, Madeline Island's second public school [not extant] was constructed. Located in the middle of the Island on Hagen Road, it was later called the Christensen School. It was a smaller schoolhouse than Bay View school, as it served a smaller student population. Rectangular in plan, it was a gable-front building sided in clapboard. The plan included a cloakroom, mudroom, and rear wood shed. Two outhouses were located behind the school. Low student population closed the school between 1918 and 1929. After eight years it was closed permanently. Removal of the building to the Sandstrom farm did not save it, as it burned after being struck by lightening a few years later.[A]

A third school district was created in 1904, providing the far eastern Island residents with a school. At first, school facilities were rented, but after only a year a new school building was constructed [new site: 273 Colonel Woods Avenue, 43-4]. It was called Lake View School, and was located at the corner of Big Bay Road and Schoolhouse Road. It was constructed by Olaf Dahlin and Victor Hultquist. In 1938 the school closed. All the students from the Christensen and Lake View schools attended the new Bay View School in the village of La Pointe. The Lake View School was used as a residence for many years. In 1987 the building was moved to its present location.[A]

In 1938, Madeline Island's fourth school district was established, consolidating the three existing districts. As stated, the school year of 1937/38 was the latter for Christensen and Lake View schools. To accommodate the new students, a new wing was added to the 1927 "new" Bay View School.[A]

In 1950, District #4 was consolidated into Joint District #1, which also included Ashland. La Pointe School became the new name of Bay View School. In 1981, a gymnasium was added to the building.[A]

Madeline Island's public library began in 1876 when the town board authorized an expenditure of $250 to purchase periodicals. John W. Bell was the town librarian. The location of the library at the time is not known. The town library's 150 volumes were combined with the school library's 250 in 1938. The library was then housed in Bay View School [N868 Whitefish Street, 42-36]. A free public library was established in 1960 by the town board. The old Bay View School [E249 Library Street, 42-35], then known as Memorial Hall, was the location of the new library. The Madeline Island Public Library is now part of the Northern Waters Library System.[A]

Historical Significance
The Madeline Island Library is locally significant under National Register Criterion A in the area of Education. It was constructed to house the school in the population center of the village of La Pointe. During a short period in the buildings history when it was not serving an educational function as a school or as the library, it was nontheless a public building, serving as a social meeting place.

Description
Many of the fur trade and religious activists on the Island were from Eastern states where the Greek Revival style predominated. It was standard for immigrants to transport styles and reconstruct them in new settlements. Many of the buildings on Madeline Island which are no longer in existence were constructed when the Greek Revival Style was popular, and it may be assumed that the Island's built environment once included many more buildings of this style.

The Madeline Island Public Library (the old Bay View School, E249 Library Street [42-35]), constructed in 1872, is Madeline Island's only remaining example of Greek Revival architecture. It is a simple two story, gable front structure. Its cornice with gable-end returns and transom over the front elevation window and door are the most prominent Greek Revival details. Its present site is its third location.

Architectural Significance
The Madeline Island Library is locally significant under National Register Criterion C as an excellent example of a late Nineteenth Century school building. It is also representative of a vernacular public building with late Greek Revival details.

Historical Background.
In the early 1860s, perhaps coinciding with the departure of the Catholic school, the La Pointe Town Board was levying taxes to support the "town school." By 1870, thirty-six children were being taught in the school. Classes were probably held in local homes [locations unknown].[A]

In 1872, the Town Board purchased land and contracted for the construction of a "schoolhouse." The first building built for use as a public school was the Bay View School [this building, new site, E249 Library Street, 42-35]. Constructed late in 1872 or early 1873, it was originally located at what is now the intersection of Main Street and Big Bay Road. It is a simple two story, gable front structure. Its cornice with gable-end returns and transom over the front elevation window and door are the most prominent Greek Revival details.[A]

In 1903, the Bay View School was moved onto a new stone foundation at a new location between Nebraska Row and Whitefish Street, next to Big Bay Road. In 1912 a new 10' porch was added to the building. A new District 1 school (also called Bay View) was built in 1926-7 [N868 Whitefish Street, 42-36]. Classes were last held in the old Bay View School in the academic year 1926/1927. It was moved again, and the Town Board (rather than the school district) became responsible for the building. Then renamed Memorial Hall, it served as a community center. It now houses the Madeline Island Public Library.[A]

Residents on the eastern part of the Island lobbied for and received a branch school outside of the village of La Pointe. Classes were held in buildings provided by area residents. A second school district was created in 1897. Between 1897 and 1901, Madeline Island's second public school [not extant] was constructed. Located in the middle of the Island on Hagen Road, it was later called the Christensen School. It was a smaller schoolhouse than Bay View School, as it served a smaller student population. Rectangular in plan, it was a gable-front building sided in clapboard. The plan included a cloakroom, mudroom, and rear wood shed. Two outhouses were located behind the school. Low student population closed the school between 1918 and 1929. After eight years it was closed permanently. Removal of the building to the Sandstrom farm did not save it, as it burned after being struck by lightning a few years later.[A]

A. Madeline Island Schools and Highlights of Island History. Madeline Island Historic Preservation Association. Typed Manuscript, 1992.